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Electrifying Future: Changing how we Charge

What does the future hold for electric vehicles?

Electric Vehicles, or “EVs” are vehicles that run on electricity from batteries rather than gasoline or diesel fuel. Currently they are a trending topic amongst automotive producers and within the energy industry. One of the issues of EVs being their impact on the environment, the availability of charging stations and driving range.

EVs are now entering the mainstream due to a variety of factors, such as:

  • Increased Demand: As consumers gain greater awareness of the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of EVs, demand continues to rise for their production for a variety of reasons, such as fuel expense, the lowered cost requirement for maintenance and increased battery efficiency leading to greater driving distances.

  • Domestic Regulation: Countries aiming to meet better standards of carbon emission, either individually or as part of an international agreement are enforcing new laws that require a certain percentage of vehicles sold on the market to be EV or hybrid fuel. This means that as time passes, more and more EVs will make their way to the market.

  • Infrastructure: As EVs become widely adopted, new structures such as charging stations become a necessity across all travelled routes, creating new revenue routes for businesses and car manufacturers to capitalise on.

  • Social Factors: With the growing negative image of the ‘diesel and gasoline’ industry and increasing cost efficiency of EVs, many drivers are switching to EVs to help keep the planet cleaner.

EVs will soon play a large part in how everyday people commute, whilst reducing the overall impact of fossil fuel emissions. But how much of an impact will EVs make?

Aren’t electric vehicles worse for the environment?

Compared to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs) have a lesser environmental impact. During their lifespan, EVs emit significantly less harmful pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions (EPA, 2022).

Zero Tailpipe Emissions

One of the major strengths of EVs is that they generate zero tailpipe emissions, which means no emissions of harmful pollutants compared to internal combustion engines. This means less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates. This contributes to a reduction in local air pollution, which is advantageous in urban settings such as London, Dubai and New York.

Cleaner Energy Sources

Another environmental benefit of EVs is that they emit fewer greenhouse gases over their lifetime than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. This is due to the fact that the production and generation of electricity used to power EVs is becoming more clean and renewable, with a growing proportion of electricity coming from wind, solar, and other low-carbon sources.

The overall environmental impact of EVs, however, is determined by the source of the electricity used to power them. The environmental benefits of EVs may be limited in areas where electricity is generated primarily from fossil fuels. EVs, on the other hand, can have significant environmental benefits in areas where electricity is generated from clean, renewable sources.

To summarise, the future of EVs holds great promise for reducing transportation's environmental impact, but the key to realising these benefits is to transition to a clean and renewable energy system.

Lithium Mining & Recycling

The production of EVs and their batteries can be energy-intensive, and the production of certain materials used in EV batteries can be harmful to the environment. However, as battery manufacturing processes become more efficient and sustainable, the environmental impact of EV production is expected to decrease over time.

Lithium Mining

Lithium is an important component in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The demand for lithium is expected to rise as the production and sale of EVs expands. As a result, lithium mining, also known as "lithium farming," is becoming a central industry, now more than ever.

Forms of Lithium Mining

The environmental impact of lithium farming is determined by the extraction methods used. Some methods of lithium mining, such as brine extraction, have a low environmental impact. Brine
extraction entails pumping saltwater from underground wells and allowing the lithium to evaporate. This process has the potential to impact local water resources and contribute to soil
and water pollution.

The hard rock Mining for lithium, which entails extracting and processing ore from lithium-rich rocks, can have a greater environmental impact. This mining method can result in deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion. Furthermore, the processing of lithium ore can result in waste and pollution.

Overall, the environmental impact of lithium farming will be determined by a variety of factors, including mining method, mining site location, and regulations and environmental standards in place.

As the demand for lithium grows, it is critical for the industry to prioritise sustainable and responsible mining practises in order to reduce the industry’s environmental impact.

Charging with Greener Life Pastures (GLP)

Businesses like GLP install EV charging stations because electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common, and charging infrastructure is critical for promoting EV adoption. Charging ports help to alleviate range anxiety, which is a major barrier to EV adoption, and they provide EV drivers with a convenient and dependable way to recharge their vehicles whilst travelling.

Having charging stations available shows a commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, creating a positive brand image. Furthermore, as the demand for EVs grows,
businesses with charging stations are well positioned to benefit from increased foot traffic, customer engagement and revenue.

Providing EV charging ports is a critical step for GLP to take in order to support the transition to a more sustainable and electrified transportation system, as well as to stay ahead of the curve as demand for EVs grows.

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